Updated at 2:05 p.m., Thursday, May 16, 2019: Revised throughout to reflect the final Senate vote and additional debate.

AUSTIN — The Texas Senate has approved a bill that would prohibit the government from penalizing individuals and businesses for their charitable giving to or membership in religious groups.

Senate Bill 1978, which supporters call the "Save Chick-fil-A" bill, was passed by a vote of 19-12 on Thursday afternoon after about four hours of debate over two days. Sen. Eddie Lucio, D-Brownsville, broke with his party to vote in favor, while Sen. Kel Seliger of Amarillo split with fellow Republicans to vote against the bill.

The legislation now heads to the Texas House for further debate, just 10 days before lawmakers are scheduled to go home.

In the waning days of the 2019 session, this so-called "Save Chick-fil-A bill" has quickly become one of the most divisive issues in an otherwise mostly harmonious year. It's pitted Republican lawmakers and conservative groups that pushed two years ago for the infamous "bathroom bill" against Democrats and their allies in the LGBT rights community, who accuse the GOP of giving a supporting hate under the guise of protecting "religious freedom."

Bill author Sen. Bryan Hughes said these concerns were unfounded and overblown.

"I challenge anyone to find one word of discrimination in this bill. This bill clearly and simply provides that if you affiliate with or make a donation to a religious organization, you cannot be punished by your government," Hughes, R-Mineola, said as he closed debate on the bill Thursday. "This protects everyone's right to religious freedom."

While Hughes admitted the bill may not have stopped the restaurant from being ousted, he said it would have given its owner the ability to take legal action, including seeking cash damages, from the city council. The attorney general could also intervene to force a government employee to comply with the rules.

The bill's supporters said the bill further protects First Amendment rights of speech and religious exercise.

"Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. And religious freedom, religious liberty, has often been called our first freedom," said Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, Attorney General Ken Paxton's wife. "From time to time, it falls on us to clarify what that means."

Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, said failing to protect Christian beliefs put all faiths at risk: "The headlines are about Chick-fil-A. Who's next? Who's beliefs are on the line next?"

Democrats repeatedly attempted to delay, derail or amend what they said was a bill that would tie the hands of local governments and allow Texans to cite their faith in order to discriminate against people based on their gender identity or sexual orientation.

Sen. John Whitmire, another Houston Democrat who is the chamber's longest serving member, said he was speaking against the bill on behalf of his lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender friends and constituents.

"I know they're watching this discussion," Whitmire said, nodding to past debates over legislation like the bathroom bill, which would have restricted restroom access for transgender people. "I can speak for them on the Senate floor. All they want to do is be left alone to raise their families, work, pay taxes and not be the subject of a divisive debate again."

Last week, the newly formed Texas House LGBTQ Caucus killed a bill similar to this one before there was any debate, a huge victory for Democrats in that chamber. But Hughes soon revived the effort in the Senate, and his bill was fast-tracked through committee and to the floor in a matter of days.